Consoles and tablets top Christmas wishlists, but almost all are already sold
out, suppliers tell The Telegraph

Gaming consoles, including the Xbox One and Playstation 4, and low-cost tablets such as the Tesco Hudl and Aldi Medion Lifetab are expected to top many people's Christmas lists this year, but many suppliers have reported that their devices are already unavailable.

Both the Xbox One and the Playstation 4 have sold out in the UK, with Amazon and other major suppliers now warning that any orders will not be fulfilled until after December 25.

Microsoft announced this week that it has sold two million Xbox One consoles in the space of 18 days since its launch on November 20. "Demand is exceeding supply in our 13 launch markets and Xbox One is sold out at most retailers," said Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president of strategy and marketing at Xbox.

Meanwhile, Aldi's low-cost tablet, the Medion Lifetab that went on sale at the supermarket chain over the weekend, has already sold out in all stores, and Tesco's Hudl tablet has sold out twice in the run up to Christmas.

Treeva Fenwick, head of consumer and broadcast media at Tesco, said that the Hudl is the fastest-selling tablet that Tesco has ever sold, and the company is working with its suppliers to get more in to meet demand.

The most popular gadget to appear on all Christmas gift predictions that is still widely available is Apple's iPad and iPad Mini range. Google's Nexus 7 tablet is also still available from the company's own Play store.

Many of the sold-out devices are available at elevated prices via online marketplaces. The Hudl tablet, which would normally cost £119 from Tesco, is attracting bids of up to £145 on eBay, and there are some reports of eager gamers forking out almost double the recommended retail price to get their hands on a PS4 before Christmas.

Sony's Playstation 4 console

The news seems to confirm predictions that technology and gadgets will feature high up on many people's Christmas lists this year. A report by uSwitch last month revealed that parents will collectively be splashing out over £3 billion on tech gifts for their kids, spending an average of £243 each.

Tablets are predicted to be the most popular tech gift, being bought by one in four parents (24 per cent), and video games remain popular with a fifth (17 per cent) looking to buy one for their child. More than one in ten is considering a smartphone (13 per cent), while digital cameras and e-readers make up the top five.

However, online security firms have warned that the high demand and low supply of must-have gadgets puts consumers at risk of being scammed. Advertisements that offer deals on items such as the Playstation 4 and Xbox One, for example, might be too good to be true.

Brand protection specialist NetNames revealed that the volume of listings for cut-price PS4 and Xbox One consoles promised in online scams reached nearly 100,000 across marketplace sites ahead of the two busiest shopping days of the year – ‘Black Friday’ and ‘Cyber Monday’.

“To avoid falling victim to the latest online scams, consumers need to remember that if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is," said Haydn Simpson, product director of brand protection at NetNames.

"Whilst the internet provides an unrivalled opportunity for businesses to grow online, it also provides a fantastic opportunity for criminals to prosper from a brand’s value by using its intellectual property and trademarks for their own gains."

Online shoppers may also be vulnerable to scammers who set up phony e-commerce sites with the aim of stealing customers' money and personal data. In October this year, McAfee revealed that one in every five consumers looking for a bargain online were getting duped by phony retail sites.

"It’s important that consumers realise that the potential for identity theft and fraud increases when sharing personal information and bank details using smartphones, tablets and PCs that are under protected,” said Samantha Swift, online safety expert at McAfee.